New to me 02 Sport, and I'm reading that I need to remove the inner wheel well shroud to get to the oil filter, which means removing the clips that hold it in, which I assume means breaking them each oil change. Do you guys buy them in bulk? Or is there a trick I'm not getting?
Do I need to buy new wheel well clips each time I remove the oil filter?
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Mighty Buffalo
Member
There's a little tab you have to push on the engine side, and then it'll slide out to the outside.
AntleredRuin
New member
I apologize in advance to the OP. I'm gonna be *****y, but it's not directly at you, OP.
People of T4R.org, hear me now. Take off your damn skid plates when doing an oil change. It takes all of 2 extra minutes. Then, reach up from underneath and take the damn filter off. IT'S NOT HARD!
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
I don't get it. You guys can weld bumpers and sliders and all kinds of offroading equipment, build sleeping racks, etc.
How the hell is this what beats you?
People of T4R.org, hear me now. Take off your damn skid plates when doing an oil change. It takes all of 2 extra minutes. Then, reach up from underneath and take the damn filter off. IT'S NOT HARD!
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
I don't get it. You guys can weld bumpers and sliders and all kinds of offroading equipment, build sleeping racks, etc. How the hell is this what beats you?
tcT4R
Member
I apologize in advance to the OP. I'm gonna be *****y, but it's not directly at you, OP.
People of T4R.org, hear me now. Take off your damn skid plates when doing an oil change. It takes all of 2 extra minutes. Then, reach up from underneath and take the damn filter off. IT'S NOT HARD!
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
How the hell is this what beats you?
Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but genuinely curious what the problem is with accessing the filter through the wheel well.
I just did my most recent oil change this way, popped the clips out and then back in no problem.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
It's even easier on 2WD, reach right through the spindle, no clips to pop
But seriously, if you switch to full synthetic, and only do once a year oil changes, it's easy enough to drop the skid(s) once a year - or get a Fumomoto valve - or relocate your oil filter... so many options
mtbtim
Elite Member
I apologize in advance to the OP. I'm gonna be *****y, but it's not directly at you, OP.
People of T4R.org, hear me now. Take off your damn skid plates when doing an oil change. It takes all of 2 extra minutes. Then, reach up from underneath and take the damn filter off. IT'S NOT HARD!
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
How the hell is this what beats you?
That was funny Daniel. Good stuff. Even on my 98 with a heavy aftermarket skid plate, I still take it off for oil changes. #1, I don't have to worry about making a mess. I know people have figured out ways to limit the mess and that's great, but #2, with the skid pates off, you get to visualize more of your undercarriage and that's a good thing. You might catch something that you otherwise wouldn't have noticed with the skid plates on.
That's Timmy's two cents.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
I do both - remove the skid for access, and remove the wheelwell panel to get a better view of the filter mounting surface. I always reuse the clips, haven't broken one yet.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Uhh you guys do it the hard way. I access my oil filter by just reaching down under the alternator from up top. Way easier then laying on your back and enjoying oil spray on your face. Also, don't put your filters on so tight! My skid plate is thrashed so I don't care if it gets oil on it, I call it rust prevention.
T4R2014
Elite Member
I apologize in advance to the OP. I'm gonna be *****y, but it's not directly at you, OP.
People of T4R.org, hear me now. Take off your damn skid plates when doing an oil change. It takes all of 2 extra minutes. Then, reach up from underneath and take the damn filter off. IT'S NOT HARD!
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
How the hell is this what beats you?
2 minutes? Lmao gtfo. Maybe in Texas where there's no salt, and you have a lift. Also I watch my mechanic do the oil change and he never seems to break those clips when removing.
theesotericone
New member
For a forum full of seriously impressive fabricators and DIYers, y'all sure do like to ***** about that oil filter location.
How the hell is this what beats you?
Name one of us that wheel hard or fab our own stuff that has ever b1tched about the oil filter, or the starter, or the upper rear shock nut? Just sayin. lol
TheDurk
Elite Member
After almost 20 years of doing it through the wheel well, that clip is so worn it just slides in and out (that's what she said!). Taking the skid off is really unnecessary and it's more than a few minutes work if you don't have a lift. After almost 20 years, I don't make much of a mess, either.
2ndhandyotaman
Member
I'm supposed to change the oil ??
OP here...Being a "new to me" T4R, and the first I've owned, I've never actually changed the oil. But I did recently change my antenna and had to break/replace clips to get to it so I figured I'd need to do the same to get to the filter. I learned more about oil changes from y'alls posts than I ever knew! And I have an 02 so I don't even have a mess of skid plates, just that lame one in the front. Thanks for all the great advise! :girl:
Js'00imited4runner
Member
I ended up using a 3/8" extension with a oil filter grip that clamps down on the filter as you loosen it. Makes it pretty simple! Then I just loosen the old one and hand tighten the new one on...thats my 3 cents! Also I do remove the skids every other oil change.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Totally different clips. The ones for the wheelwell are typically one-time, the one for the access plate are reusable.
Coward
New member
In my 20 years, it never even occurred to me to remove the fender liner. I just walked out to the parking lot to look. That would be super easy! But I still won't do it because of the mess it creates on top of the skid plates. Says the man with ZERO rust on his 1996.
3 days after I bought my truck I was buying some parts at the dealer. The oil change tech told me that day "man just remove the skid plate every time, you won't regret the extra few minutes". .
mtbtim
Elite Member
I think that was good advice that tech gave you. My 2000 isn't lifted but I also don't try to change oil on it without having the front end lifted up. I drive up onto a pair of plastic ramps, set the parking brake and start removing the factory skids. With my Milwaukee M12 cordless ratchet, I can have my skids off in less than 5 minutes. I don't want to spill any oil on my skids. Why? Because, how will I know if the oil I see on my skids is from my last oil change or do I have a leak somewhere. What you see accumulating on your skids can tell you something.
jgue467
Senior Member
Got tired of removing the stupid skid pan to prevent oil from dripping onto it so i got this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UT822G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Along with my homemade funnel (out of an empty clorox bottle) makes for drip free oil drains and filter removals (w/funnel). Woohoo! :cowboy:
Along with my homemade funnel (out of an empty clorox bottle) makes for drip free oil drains and filter removals (w/funnel). Woohoo! :cowboy:
thennen
New member
What he said^^^ I've been doing it that way for 12 years.
